Counter construction



J. SHEMILT.

COUNTER CONSTRUCTION,

APPLICATION mzn- NOV. 4. 1920.

1 3 5 47 Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHET5-HET 1- I i .15 F -41! 1' in: 2a a J. SHEMILT.

COUNTER CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, i920.

Patented J uly 26,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SHEMIL-T, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

COUNTER CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented J l 26' 1921 Application filed November 4, 1920. Serial No. 421,654.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S EMILT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Rockford, in the county of WVinnebago and'State 'of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counter Constructions, of which. the following is a speclfication.

This invention pertaining to counter con- 'struction, 'has for its principal ob e'ct' the provision of a generally improved and 'slmplifiedcounter especially adapted for restaurants, lunch rooms and the like, 7 'More particularly, I. have almed to provi'de a counter of knock-clown construction of suchnovel designasto "be transportable in a compact'bundle and capable of being quickly and easily set up foruse. In this regard, my invention'contemplates' also the provision of counter units so constructed that they maybe attached onet'o another to provide a continuous co'unter ofany'length desired.

Another obiectlresides in the provision of an overhang counter with which is embodied a] frontpanel defining the shape of the front of the'counterstructure. This feapanel inclosing three sides of the frame, and I ture' is preferably incorporated in a rectangular frame structure with the viewto simplicity, economy in manufacture and ready adaptability for assembling and; dismantling.

Another' object is. toiprovi'de'a counter construction. characterized by. a rectangular corner post frame, end plates anda front an overhang counter top, r'ernovabl'y sup- .Jported on the frame; In this regard, -I have also aimed to 'providea sub-top supported. 'by theframe and upon and byhichthe counter proper'fis directly supported and 1 from whichit may be removedat any time. .Thiseounter preferably of marble or of a {suitable composition, is quite heavy sothat it retain sits position on the sub-top. without the use of fastening deviees.

Other objects and attendant advantages Willrbef appreciated by those-familiar with "this art as the invention becomes better "understood by. reference to the, followlng specification when. considered in connection with .the aceompanylllg. drawings, n

which Figure 1 is a rear elevation .of-a counter structure embodying my invention;

Fig; 2, a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 22 of Fig. 1;

taken on 7 stated, the provision of a rectangular corner post frame joined by cross rails, a sub-top 7 mounted on the frame, va counter top 8 removably mounted on the sub-top and overhanging the front' of the frame, end plates 9 detachably secured tothe ends of the frame and shaped to overhang at the front top thereof, and a front panel 11 conforming to the contour of the front edge of the end plates and detachably v associated therewith. The foregoing provides a very rigid and. substantial frame inclosed on three sides by the end plates and front panel and supporting a sub-top and counter top, all.

of which parts are detachably associated as.

.to be capable of quick assembling and dismantling, and which require but a minimum number of fastening devices for holding them in rigid operative relation. I

Referring now more particularly; to. the

main frame,.it' will be observed that this is built up of two pairs of corner posts 12 and -13,at present in the form of angle iron bars, shaped at their lower ends to provide feet 13 and rigidlyjoined together by cross rails 14;. These pairsof corner posts are rig dly connected inspa'ced relation ,by upper and lower cross rails 15 and 16, respectively, in theform of angle iron bars. shelf 17 is supported on the lower cross.

rails 16, this shelf being preferably made in two sections, as shown in Fig. 5, each of .wh1eh 1s freelyremovable atwwlll forcleaning... The sub-top 7 above mentioned, rests directly upon the top rails 15 and overhangs the front of .the frame as plainly shown in Fig. 2. I This sub-top is retained in position against 'sidewise' or endwise displacement both by the longitudinalcleats 18 and bythe end plates 9 which extend above the:

tops of the corner posts. .Eaeh end plate is preferably formed of sheet material and shaped to inclose an end of'the frame with the exception of the lower end thereof which is open for purpose of cleaning. Front and rear edges 19 and 21 are rolled or flanged to provide retaining edges. Each end plate is detachably secured to the adjacent'corner post by the bolts 22, which also connect the cross rails 14; to the posts. lVhen in operative position, the rear flange 21 fits against the rear edge of thcrear corner post and the front flange 19 is positioned forwardly of the front corner post, providing a guideway conforming in contour to the shape of the front panel 11. It will be further observed that the front flange l9 follows the front contour of the end plate, which latter has an overhang atits top reaching substantially to the front of the overhang counter. The front panel 11 preferably of sheet metal is of such length as to fit between the opposed end plates and be retained in position against forward displacement by the flanges 1'9 and against rearward displacement by'the front corner posts. The front panel is equipped with a series of reinforcing bars 23 which have rearwardly turned upper ends 24 extending over and resting upon the front top rail 15, and thereby serve in part'to support the front panel in position. The lower end of the front panel is turned up at 25 to provide a rounded smooth edge. 1

Itwill be observed from the foregoing that in setting up the counter the rectangular frame is first assembled, requiring. in

are employed to connect the corner posts of each. pair by means of cross rails 14. The front panel 11 will then be placed in position from the top as will be obvious from Fig. 3. The sub-top 7 may now be added,

and finally the counter top 8. To insure rigidity the front panel after being'placed in position is fastened to the lower front rail 16' by means of bolts'26, Fig. 2. This completes the counter unit, it being observed that the purpose of the overhang construction is to secure a relatively Wide counter top and allow room for positioning the counter seats or stools close to the counter, thus adding to the convenlence and comfort of the customers.

Two or more counter units such as described above may be connected together end to end as shown in Fig.- 6,by passing the bolts 22 entirely through the adjoining end pended claims.

plates andcorner posts. I

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objectspreffaced above, and while I have illustrated and described but a single embodiment, it

should, be manifest that various changes might be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope expressed in the apof the invention as ported by the frame.

I claim:

1. A counter construction comprising a rectangular frame, a counter top on the frame overhanging the front thereof, end platesinclosing the ends of the frame and overhanging the front thereof, and a front panel conforming in shape tothe front edge of the end plates and detachably connected with the frame; Q

2. A counter construction comprising a frame of corner osts and cross rails, an end plate detachably connected to and inclosing each end of the frame, each end plate shaped to project substantially beyond the frame at the front and top thereof whereby to define a top support of greater depth than the frame, a front panel detachably supported between and conforming in the frame to the front'portio'n of the overhang top and equipped at its upper end with arms resting on the frame. 7

4. A knock-down counter construction a series of rearwardly extending supporting comprising a frame composed of corner this instance assembly also of the end plates 9, by reason of the fact that the bolts 22 posts, cross rails detachably connected to the corner posts for holding themin spaced the rear face of the rear post and flanged at its forward edge to provide a guide for .an 1 overhang front panel, an overhanging front panel interposed between; theend plates and adapted to be guided into position by the front flanges thereof, and a counter top sup- 6. In a counter construction, a frame 7 structure having ends-each provided with an overhang portion, and means on said ends y for I positlon, an overhang front panelinterposed guiding an overhang front panel. into between said overhang portions and adapted to be guided into position by said means, j

and a counter top supported on the frame.

' HN. HEMII T- 

